Latest news with #Decameron
Straits Times
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
Tokyo's newest art star is one-year-old Thumbelina
Gallery director Dan Isomura with abstract artwork by Thumbelina at his gallery in the Shinjuku district in central Tokyo. PHOTO: AFP Works by 21-month-old artist Thumbelina at her home in Tokyo. Abstract paintings by the toddler are on sale at her debut show at Decameron gallery. PHOTO: AFP TOKYO – Gripping paintbrush and crayon, the artist known as Thumbelina splodges and splats with merry abandon, the one-year-old star of a Tokyo exhibition that goes on way past her bedtime. Abstract paintings by the toddler are on sale for 33,000 yen (S$300) each at her debut show at the hip gallery Decameron, tucked above a bar in the Kabukicho red-light district. Thumbelina's vivid style is 'babyish but mysteriously dexterous', said gallery director – and matchmaker of her parents – Dan Isomura. 'I thought, 'wow, these are legit artworks',' contemporary artist Isomura, 32, said, describing his first impression of her free-form creations. The dining table at the home of Thumbelina doubles as her drawing space. PHOTO: AFP Colourful smudges adorn tatami mats and tables at the 21-month-old's suburban home, where her mother patiently helps twist open paint tubes and squeeze them onto paper. 'I can see this rhythm in her movements and patterns. She knows what she's doing,' said the evacuee in her 20s from Ukraine, asking to remain anonymous for privacy reasons. As a fellow artist focusing on Japanese calligraphy, she is jealous of her daughter's first solo exhibition, she joked, though, of course, 'I'm happy, as a mum'. Once, she thought her daughter might help her with work, but now, 'I'm her assistant'. A drawing on the side of a sliding screen door at the home of Thumbelina (right). PHOTO: AFP After Russia invaded in 2022, Thumbelina's mother left Ukraine's eastern Donbas region – her 'very pathological, violent' homeland torn apart by war. She found herself on a plane to Japan, having consulted a website helping Ukrainians find housing worldwide. A chance seating beside Isomura , who had only boarded because of two delayed flights, changed her life. Amazed to learn they were both artists, the pair kept in touch and, later, through Isomura's introduction, she met her future husband. 'Dan is our angel, you know, like Cupid,' she said. The couple then had Thumbelina – not her real name – whose paintings inspired Isomura. Artist Thumbelina at work in her home. PHOTO: AFP At first, he had assumed the toddler was scribbling randomly, like she was playing in the mud. But when he saw Thumbelina in action, she seemed to signal each time she considered her drawing complete, prompting her mother to give her a fresh sheet. The fact that Thumbelina sometimes demands a specific colour, develops shapes from paint droplets and finishes voluntarily suggests a will at work, he said. 'Some may say her mother's involvement means these are not Thumbelina's works,' Isomura said. But 'for a baby, a mother is part of their body'. In any case, adult artists are not fully independent, Isomura argued, as they rarely break free of store-bought paints or conventional canvases. 'We operate under the illusion of solitary creation, while in fact, we rely heavily on systems built by others,' he said. The exhibition, Isomura's first as director of Decameron, opened in March and runs until mid-May. But most of the time it is on, from 8pm to 5am , Thumbelina will likely be fast asleep. Artist Thumbelina using a brush to paint at her home. PHOTO: AFP One recent night at the gallery, an admiring visitor said the paintings had an innocent charm. 'We instinctively try to draw skilfully because we've grown used to having our paintings evaluated by others', said Ms Yuri Kuroda, 45. 'But it feels like she doesn't care at all about whether it's good or bad. It's a mindset we can never return to.' So, would she pay $300 to take one home? 'I'm tempted,' Ms Kuroda said with a chuckle. AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
RTÉ News
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
Tokyo's newest art star: one-year-old Thumbelina
Gripping paintbrush and crayon, the artist known as Thumbelina splodges and splats with merry abandon, the one-year-old star of a Tokyo exhibition that goes on way past her bedtime. Abstract paintings by the toddler are on sale for 33,000 yen (€203) at her debut show at the hip gallery Decameron, tucked above a bar in the Kabukicho red-light district. Thumbelina's vivid style is "babyish but mysteriously dexterous", gallery director - and matchmaker of her parents - Dan Isomura said. "I thought, 'wow, these are legit artworks'," Isomura said, describing his first impression of her free-form creations. Colourful smudges adorn tatami mats and tables at the 21-month-old's suburban home, where her mother patiently helps twist open paint tubes and squeeze them onto paper. "I can see this rhythm in her movements and patterns... she knows what she's doing," said the evacuee from Ukraine in her 20s, asking to remain anonymous for privacy reasons. As a fellow artist focusing on Japanese calligraphy, she is "jealous" of her daughter's first solo exhibition, she joked, though of course "I'm happy, as a mum". Once she thought her daughter might help her with work, but now "I'm her assistant". 'Like Cupid' After Russia invaded in 2022, Thumbelina's mother left Ukraine's eastern Donbas region - her "very pathological, violent" homeland torn apart by war. She found herself on a plane to Japan, having consulted a website helping Ukrainians find housing worldwide. A chance seating beside contemporary artist Isomura, who had only boarded because of two delayed flights, changed her life. Amazed to learn they were both artists, the pair kept in touch, and later, through Isomura's introduction, she met her future husband. "Dan is our angel, you know, like Cupid," she said. The couple then had Thumbelina - not her real name - whose paintings inspired 32-year-old Isomura. At first he had assumed the toddler was "scribbling randomly, like she was playing in the mud". But when he saw Thumbelina in action, "she seemed to signal each time she considered her drawing complete," prompting her mother to give her a fresh sheet. The fact that Thumbelina sometimes demands a specific colour, develops shapes from paint droplets and finishes voluntarily suggests a will at work, he said. "Some may say her mother's involvement means these are not Thumbelina's works," Isomura said. But "for a baby, a mother is part of their body". Young creative mindset In any case, adult artists are not fully independent, Isomura argues, as they rarely break free of store-bought paints or conventional canvases. "We operate under the illusion of solitary creation, while in fact we rely heavily on systems built by others," he said. The exhibition, Isomura's first as director of Decameron, opened last month and runs until mid-May. But most of the time it's on, from 8pm until 5am, Thumbelina will likely be fast asleep. One recent night at the gallery, an admiring visitor said the paintings had an innocent charm. "We instinctively try to draw skilfully" because "we've grown used to having our paintings evaluated by others", 45-year-old Yuri Kuroda said. "But it feels like she doesn't care at all about whether it's good or bad... It's a mindset we can never return to." So would she pay 33,000 yen to take one home?
NDTV
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- NDTV
One-Year-Old Thumbelina Is Tokyo's New Star Artist
Tokyo: Gripping paintbrush and crayon, the artist known as Thumbelina splodges and splats with merry abandon, the one-year-old star of a Tokyo exhibition that goes on way past her bedtime. Abstract paintings by the toddler are on sale for 33,000 yen ($230) at her debut show at the hip gallery Decameron, tucked above a bar in the Kabukicho red-light district. Thumbelina's vivid style is "babyish but mysteriously dexterous", gallery director -- and matchmaker of her parents -- Dan Isomura told AFP. "I thought, 'wow, these are legit artworks'," Isomura said, describing his first impression of her free-form creations. Colourful smudges adorn tatami mats and tables at the 21-month-old's suburban home, where her mother patiently helps twist open paint tubes and squeeze them onto paper. "I can see this rhythm in her movements and patterns... she knows what she's doing," said the evacuee from Ukraine in her 20s, asking to remain anonymous for privacy reasons. As a fellow artist focusing on Japanese calligraphy, she is "jealous" of her daughter's first solo exhibition, she joked, though of course "I'm happy, as a mum". Once she thought her daughter might help her with work, but now "I'm her assistant". 'Like Cupid' After Russia invaded in 2022, Thumbelina's mother left Ukraine's eastern Donbas region -- her "very pathological, violent" homeland torn apart by war. She found herself on a plane to Japan, having consulted a website helping Ukrainians find housing worldwide. A chance seating beside contemporary artist Isomura, who had only boarded because of two delayed flights, changed her life. Amazed to learn they were both artists, the pair kept in touch, and later, through Isomura's introduction, she met her future husband. "Dan is our angel, you know, like Cupid," she said. The couple then had Thumbelina -- not her real name -- whose paintings inspired 32-year-old Isomura. At first he had assumed the toddler was "scribbling randomly, like she was playing in the mud". But when he saw Thumbelina in action, "she seemed to signal each time she considered her drawing complete," prompting her mother to give her a fresh sheet. The fact that Thumbelina sometimes demands a specific colour, develops shapes from paint droplets and finishes voluntarily suggests a will at work, he said. "Some may say her mother's involvement means these are not Thumbelina's works," Isomura said. But "for a baby, a mother is part of their body". Young creative mindset In any case, adult artists are not fully independent, Isomura argues, as they rarely break free of store-bought paints or conventional canvases. "We operate under the illusion of solitary creation, while in fact we rely heavily on systems built by others," he said. The exhibition, Isomura's first as director of Decameron, opened last month and runs until mid-May. But most of the time it's on, from 8:00 pm until 5:00 am, Thumbelina will likely be fast asleep. One recent night at the gallery, an admiring visitor said the paintings had an innocent charm. "We instinctively try to draw skillfully" because "we've grown used to having our paintings evaluated by others", 45-year-old Yuri Kuroda told AFP. "But it feels like she doesn't care at all about whether it's good or bad... It's a mindset we can never return to." So would she pay $230 to take one home? "I'm tempted," Kuroda chuckled.
RTHK
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- RTHK
Thumbelina hands down an art star at just a year old
Thumbelina hands down an art star at just a year old A drawing is displayed on a sliding screen door at the home of 21-month-old artist Thumbelina. Photo: AFP Gripping paintbrush and crayon, the artist known as Thumbelina splodges and splats with merry abandon, the one-year-old star of a Tokyo exhibition that goes on way past her bedtime. Abstract paintings by the toddler are on sale for US$230 at her debut show at the hip gallery Decameron, tucked above a bar in the Kabukicho red-light district. Thumbelina's vivid style is "babyish but mysteriously dexterous", gallery director – and matchmaker of her parents – Dan Isomura said. "I thought, 'wow, these are legit artworks'," Isomura said, describing his first impression of her free-form creations. Colourful smudges adorn tatami mats and tables at the 21-month-old's suburban home, where her mother patiently helps twist open paint tubes and squeeze them onto paper. "I can see this rhythm in her movements and patterns... she knows what she's doing," said the evacuee from Ukraine in her 20s, asking to remain anonymous for privacy reasons. As a fellow artist focusing on Japanese calligraphy, she is "jealous" of her daughter's first solo exhibition, she joked, though of course "I'm happy, as a mum". Once she thought her daughter might help her with work, but now "I'm her assistant". Thumbelina's mother left Ukraine's eastern Donbas region when war broke out in 2022. She found herself on a plane to Japan, having consulted a website helping Ukrainians find housing worldwide. A chance seating beside contemporary artist Isomura, who had only boarded because of two delayed flights, changed her life. Amazed to learn they were both artists, the pair kept in touch, and later, through Isomura's introduction, she met her future husband. "Dan is our angel, you know, like Cupid," she said. The couple then had Thumbelina – not her real name – whose paintings inspired 32-year-old Isomura. At first he had assumed the toddler was "scribbling randomly, like she was playing in the mud". But when he saw Thumbelina in action, "she seemed to signal each time she considered her drawing complete," prompting her mother to give her a fresh sheet. The fact that Thumbelina sometimes demands a specific colour, develops shapes from paint droplets and finishes voluntarily suggests a will at work, he said. The exhibition, Isomura's first as director of Decameron, opened last month and runs until mid-May. (AFP)
Malay Mail
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Malay Mail
Tokyo's pint-sized Picasso? One-year-old Thumbelina wows with abstract art in late-night gallery debut
TOKYO, April 24 — Gripping paintbrush and crayon, the artist known as Thumbelina splodges and splats with merry abandon, the one-year-old star of a Tokyo exhibition that goes on way past her bedtime. Abstract paintings by the toddler are on sale for ¥33,000 (RM1,015) at her debut show at hip gallery Decameron, tucked above a bar in the Kabukicho red-light district. Thumbelina's vivid style is 'babyish but mysteriously dexterous', gallery director — and matchmaker of her parents — Dan Isomura told AFP. 'I thought, 'wow, these are legit artworks',' Isomura said, describing his first impression of her free-form creations. Colourful smudges adorn tatami mats and tables at the 21-month-old's suburban home, where her mother patiently helps twist open paint tubes and squeeze them onto paper. 'I can see this rhythm in her movements and patterns... she knows what she's doing,' said the evacuee from Ukraine in her 20s, asking to remain anonymous for privacy reasons. As a fellow artist focusing on Japanese calligraphy, she is 'jealous' of her daughter's first solo exhibition, she joked, although of course 'I'm happy, as a mum'. Once she thought her daughter might help her with work, but now 'I'm her assistant'. Gripping paintbrush and crayon, the artist known as Thumbelina splodges and splats with merry abandon, the one-year-old star of a Tokyo exhibition that goes on way past her bedtime. — AFP pic 'Like Cupid' After Russia invaded in 2022, Thumbelina's mother left Ukraine's eastern Donbas region — her 'very pathological, violent' homeland torn apart by war. She found herself on a plane to Japan, having consulted a website helping Ukrainians find housing worldwide. A chance seating beside contemporary artist Isomura, who had only boarded due to two delayed flights, changed her life. Amazed to learn they were both artists, the pair kept in touch, and later, through Isomura's introduction, she met her future husband. 'Dan is our angel, you know, like Cupid,' she said. The couple then had Thumbelina — not her real name — whose paintings inspired 32-year-old Isomura. At first he had assumed the toddler was 'scribbling randomly, like she was playing in the mud'. But when he saw Thumbelina in action, 'she seemed to signal each time she considered her drawing complete,' prompting her mother to give her a fresh sheet. The fact that Thumbelina sometimes demands a specific colour, develops shapes from paint droplets and finishes voluntarily suggests a will at work, he said. 'Some may say her mother's involvement means these are not Thumbelina's works,' Isomura said. But 'for a baby, a mother is part of their body'. This photo taken on April 8, 2025 shows gallery director Dan Isomura posing with abstract artwork on display by 21-month-old artist 'Thumbelina' at his art gallery in the Shinjuku district of central Tokyo. — AFP pic Young creative mindset In any case, adult artists aren't fully independent, Isomura argues, as they rarely break free of store-bought paints or conventional canvases. 'We operate under the illusion of solitary creation, while in fact we rely heavily on systems built by others,' he said. The exhibition, Isomura's first as director of Decameron, opened last month and runs until mid-May. But most of the time it's on, from 8pm until 5am, Thumbelina will likely be fast asleep. One recent night at the gallery, an admiring visitor said the paintings had an innocent charm. 'We instinctively try to draw skillfully' because 'we've grown used to having our paintings evaluated by others', 45-year-old Yuri Kuroda told AFP. 'But it feels like she doesn't care at all about whether it's good or bad... It's a mindset we can never return to.' So would she pay US$230 to take one home? 'I'm tempted,' Kuroda chuckled. — AFP
